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Abortion refers to the termination of pregnancy during the initial twenty weeks of pregnancy. It could be spontaneous (e.g., miscarriage or stillbirth), or induced by medical procedures. The latter is also known as elective abortion, or simply abortion.
The most appropriate time to conduct an abortion is between 6 to 12 (at most 16) weeks of pregnancy. Prior to that, terminating a pregnancy may run a health risk. A woman may end her pregnancy for various reasons, with the most common ones being health concern of either the mother or the fetus (unborn baby), interpersonal issues, financial problems, work commitments etc.
There are two ways to conduct an abortion: surgical and medical. A surgical method involves dilating the cervical canal and inserting a hollow tube into the uterus. A vacuum (suction) machine then tears apart the fetus by the sheer force of suction and subsequently removes the fetus and placenta from the uterus. A medical abortion involves terminating the pregnancy by using drugs like Mifepristone (RU-486) and Methotrexate (M&M).
Abortion is, in itself a very safe procedure, much safer than even childbirth. However, like all other medical procedures, it carries with it some risks, such as:
- Partial abortion: If not conducted properly in the first attempt, you need to repeat it, which becomes all the more risky for the mother’s health.
- Infection
- Uterine wall may be perforated and needs a surgical repair.
- In rare cases, abortion may cause complications like hemorrhage, serious pelvic infection etc.
It is also essential to choose a reputed healthcare professional. Some women go about terminating a pregnancy on their own by using herbal abortifacients like Pennyroyal, Black or Blue Cohosh. However, the FDA does not approve their use as they may cause several health risks.
The cost of an abortion ranges from $400-600 during the first trimester to $500-5,000 during the second trimester, and is usually covered by insurance plans.
Finally, abortion is legal throughout the US and a woman has full rights to make her own decision, based either on medical grounds or with an aim to plan her family.
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